Analysis of Body Mass Index (BMI) Trends Among a Pediatric Dental Patient Population: A Pilot Study. (Preprint)

Abstract

BACKGROUND Over the past few decades, a growing trend of overweight and obesity has emerged among the pediatric population. This is a cause of significant concern as these are significantly correlated to other negative oral and systemic health outcomes over time. Although measurement of body mass index (BMI) is common among pediatric physicians and primary care providers, few studies have explored the feasibility of BMI measurement and analysis from pediatric dental providers. OBJECTIVE The primary objective of this study was to compile and analyze pediatric BMI measurements taken from a pediatric dental school patient population. METHODS This study was a retrospective analysis of previously collected data of pediatric patients between 2012 and 2019 (N=451), which was reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB). Descriptive statistics and trend analysis were compiled to determine the trends in pediatric BMI over time. RESULTS Nearly equal percentages of females and males were represented in the study (P=0.432), with the overwhelming majority identified as racial/ethnic minorities (84.5%), P=0.0075. These data revealed that pediatric BMI increased significantly from 25.6 in 2012 to 31.3 in 2018 (22.1%), P=0.031. No significant differences between males and females were observed (P=0.4824) or between minority and non-minority patients (P=0.8288). CONCLUSIONS This study provides significant novel temporal information regarding pediatric BMI among this low-income, minority patient population and highlights the need for expanding the dental school (and pediatric dental residency) curriculum to include more topics related to measuring and tracking overweight and obese children and the most appropriate methods for use in the pediatric dental office.

Oral Prevalence of Akkermansia muciniphila Differs among Pediatric and Adult Orthodontic and Non-Orthodontic Patients

“…These results may provide some of the first observations of these shifts among this specific patient population. In fact, recent studies from this group have found that body mass index (BMI) has been steadily increasing among the pediatric and adolescent patient population, with most recent average BMI ranging between 25.6 (overweight) and 31.3 (obese) [ 36 , 37 ].…”